Riders of the Realm #2
Page 23
Heart racing, Rahkki watched the army depart from his vantage on top of the elephant. Tuni’s stricken face and tangled red hair soon disappeared from view. The boy stood over Rizah, a new arrow nocked. Tears rolled down his cheeks.
But he couldn’t shoot the mare. Instead, the young soldier waited until the army was out of sight, and then he left the field. Rizah lurched to her hooves, choking and coughing. She limped slowly out of the valley and disappeared into the jungle. Between the scent of blood and her injuries, Rahkki doubted she’d survive the day.
Overhead, the Fire Horde giants retreated. The Great Cave Gorlanders whistled for their saber cats, and then disappeared into the shadowy caves from which they’d come. Soon the valley was vacant and only the truly dead remained.
And Sula.
Rahkki’s silver Flier stood on the ridge, shedding her beautiful purple feathers, flanked by her friends. Their eyes locked across the distance.
“You’re free,” Rahkki called up to her. His lips curved into a weak smile at the word free. “Leave with your herd,” he mouthed. Then Rahkki turned his back on her, hoping that whatever she did next, she did it for herself and not for him.
51
Together
ECHOFROST WHINNIED, A MOURNFUL, ANGUISHED cry. Rahkki was captured, Tuni was in the clutches of angry Sandwens, Rizah was wounded, and she didn’t know what had happened to Shysong or the princess. But the Landwalkers were gone, and she took a deep, sobering breath.
Wing beats drew her attention skyward as Shysong fluttered down from the clouds, panting hard. “The Sandwens ripped I’Lenna right off my back.” Tears slid from her ice-blue eyes. “I failed her.”
“Rahkki is gone too,” Echofrost lamented, and the two mares pressed their foreheads together, shocked by the day’s events.
“You’re hurt,” Shysong cried, noticing the arrows that quivered from Echofrost’s flesh.
“It’s nothing,” she lied.
Hazelwind, who also wore several arrows scattered across his body, danced on the rough stone. “We need a medicine mare.”
“Dewberry’s the closest we have,” Redfire nickered. “Her mother was a medicine mare and taught her much.” The five pegasi stared at one another, aghast at their failure to bring a practiced healer across the Dark Water with them.
“Dewberry can’t help me; she needs to focus on her coming foals.” Echofrost drew shallow breaths, and her legs trembled to hold her body upright. “At least we’re free,” she nickered, but the victory suddenly felt hollow and lonely.
Hazelwind flared his wings. “Let’s get to the nests, where Dewberry and the others are waiting.”
“Can she fly?” Shysong asked. Harak’s arrow had pierced Echofrost’s lung. They all heard the air whistling out of her.
Hazelwind peered at Echofrost from beneath his long, black forelock. Then he nuzzled her as tears filled his eyes. “You were right. You were always right, Echofrost. What sort of herd are we if we abandon each other? I’m sorry I deserted Shysong when she was first captured.”
Echofrost gulped a breath. “Shh,” she said, “It doesn’t matter now.”
“It does matter. When we fail one, we fail all.”
He exhaled, and she smelled Dawn Meadow: sweet grass, a flowered breeze, and the feathers of her family—home. And it struck her that she’d always been free. She’d chosen to let the Sandwens capture her—twice. She’d chosen to bind herself to Rahkki Stormrunner. She’d chosen to cross the Dark Water. Freedom was about having choices, and she had them still, even as she leaned against Hazelwind, dying. “Save Rahkki for me, please, if I can’t.”
A great sob choked the stallion. “Don’t—don’t talk like that. I’m with you, Echofrost. I’m with you forever.”
She sighed, and more air rushed from her deflating lung.
Shysong threw up her head. “Wait! We do have a healer,” she whinnied. “Brim Carver—she’s a Sandwen healer.”
“A Landwalker?” Redfire neighed.
“Yes,” the roan answered. “We must get Echofrost back to the Fifth Clan village, quickly. Brim will save her.”
“What about the others waiting at the nests?” Graystone asked.
Hazelwind lashed his black tail. “We’ll collect them on the way. From now on, we stick together. All of us!”
“What are we waiting for, let’s go,” Redfire whinnied. Graystone and Hazelwind gripped the roots of Echofrost’s wings, and Redfire gripped the base of her tail in his teeth. The three stallions lifted her, and they flew west.
Echofrost groaned softly, her thoughts tumbling.
As they flew across the peaks of Mount Crim, they passed the Highland Horde encampment. The giants had kidnapped her cub, and she didn’t know why. She peered between the drifting clouds, trying to catch sight of the boy.
Here she was again, in need of an army to free a friend. How had her quest for freedom across the Dark Water led to so much captivity? Fresh misery stormed through her and Echofrost’s thoughts drifted to Dewberry. The foals were coming soon, what awful timing! She glanced down at herself. Harak’s arrow wobbled from her rib cage; it had sliced between two plates of armor. The pain hadn’t fully registered—not yet.
But Echofrost was done making promises she couldn’t keep. If she survived, she would return to save Rahkki. He was not a pegasus, but he was her Rider and she was his Flier; and suddenly, without him, she felt like a Half.
She glanced at Hazelwind. “Don’t let me die, not yet.”
Grief closed his throat. “You won’t,” he rasped. “Remember what I said? From now on, we stick together. All of us.”
His words filled her heart. Whatever happened next, she wouldn’t suffer it alone. Comforted, Echofrost felt her body relax. And then the world blackened as her eyelids closed.
Acknowledgments
THANK YOU FOR READING THROUGH THE UNTAMED Sky! Authors write alone, but we don’t publish alone. I’m grateful for enthusiastic support from a team of highly talented people at HarperCollins Children’s Books. Executive editor Karen Chaplin is my first point of contact, and she oversees every aspect of production for The Guardian Herd and the Riders of the Realm series. It is my goal to write a book as worthy as possible for Karen, for the team, and for the readers. I hope you enjoyed the result!
I also want to thank the first two publishing professionals who believed in me—my agent, Jacqueline Flynn at Delbourgo Associates, and HarperCollins Editorial Director Rosemary Brosnan. I remain forever thankful. We all need someone to hear us on our tiny speck of dust.
Extra special thanks to the interior artist, David McClellan, and the cover illustrator, Vivienne To. You bring imaginations to life with your brilliant minds and clever hands. I’m ever in awe.
Lastly, I’m grateful to the books’ fans. I receive hundreds of pegasi drawings and fan emails and letters each year. I love hearing about your pets, viewing your artwork, and knowing that kids around the world—from Singapore, to Australia, to Denmark, to North Pole (a little town in Alaska)—are meeting Star, Morningleaf, Rahkki, and I’Lenna. Your letters and comments encourage me.
To join in the fun, please visit theguardianherd.com. There you can play herd games, take book quizzes, view the series’ maps, see fan art, fan pets, and read interviews with some of the team. If you want to know more about the supernatural black stallion named Star, begin with book one of The Guardian Herd series: Starfire.
Your author, Jennifer Lynn Alvarez
About the Author
Photo credit Nick Alvarez
JENNIFER LYNN ALVAREZ received a degree in English literature from UC Berkeley. She is an active horsewoman, a volunteer for the US Pony Club, and a proud mother of three children. She’s also the author of the Guardian Herd series, fantasy novels starring wild pegasi. Jennifer draws on her lifelong love of animals when writing her books, and when she’s not at her computer, Jennifer can be found riding her beloved mare Maddie (pictured above). She lives on a small ranch in Northern Cali
fornia with her husband, children, and more than her fair share of pets. Follow Jennifer on Twitter @JenniferDiaries or on Instagram @jennifer_lynn_alvarez. And to learn more about her winged universe of novels, please visit www.theguardianherd.com.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
Praise for Riders of the Realm: Across the Dark Water
“A story with both wings and heart, Across the Dark Water is a breathtaking ride into a rich and dangerous world. Animal lovers and thrill-seekers alike will cheer for Echofrost and Rahkki at each of the many twists and turns. Clever, epic, and wildly imaginative!”
—Kamilla Benko, author of The Unicorn Quest
“An epic adventure that moves at the speed of flight. Thrilling, compelling, and completely enchanting. I fell in love with the Storm Herd, and one particular winged steed that Pegasus himself would fall for!”
—Kate O’Hearn, author of the international bestselling Pegasus series
“Exhilarating! A well-woven tale full of loyalty, bravery, danger, and love. Readers will be delighted!”
—Lindsay Cummings, New York Times bestselling author of the Balance Keepers series
“A riveting, richly imagined epic tale of loyalty, bravery, and friendship that will make your heart (literally!) soar—a pulse-pounding adventure! Jennifer Lynn Alvarez is a true master of her craft.”
—Kristen Kittscher, author of The Wig in the Window and The Tiara on the Terrace
“Getting swept up in Jennifer Lynn Alvarez’s rich world of flying steeds, Landwalkers, giants, and spit dragons was the most fun I’ve had all year. It’s like How to Train Your Dragon meets Watership Down. But with pegasi. A fantastic read!”
—John Kloepfer, author of the Zombie Chasers series and the Galaxy’s Most Wanted series
“Honor and courage soar on every page of Jennifer Lynn Alvarez’s books!”
—Jenn Reese, author of the Above World trilogy
“A beautiful tale of loyalty, adventure, and bravery. Readers will want to soar through the clouds with Echofrost and befriend kindhearted Rahkki. Across the Dark Water is a captivating opener to the Riders of the Realm trilogy.”
—Jill Diamond, author of the Lou Lou and Pea series
“Gorgeously detailed and with heart-wrenching conflict, Across the Dark Water is a breathtaking read sure to please new fans and old. Jennifer Lynn Alvarez’s fantasy world is richly developed with a cast of characters readers will be sure to love, both winged and human. I read it as fast as a pegasus can fly and am already longing for more.”
—Mindee Arnett, critically acclaimed author of Onyx & Ivory
Praise for the Guardian Herd series
“From page one, Jennifer Lynn Alvarez weaves an epic tale of a doomed black pegasus foal named Star, whose race against time will lift the reader on the wings of danger and destiny, magic and hope. It’s a world I did not want to leave, and neither will you.”
—Peter Lerangis, New York Times bestselling author in the 39 Clues series and of the Seven Wonders series
“Perfect for fans of Charlotte’s Web and the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series.”
—ALA Booklist
“Chock-full of adventure and twists, making it difficult to put down. Readers will be clamoring for the next book.”
—School Library Journal
“Alvarez’s world is lush with description and atmosphere.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Will prove popular with both animal-lovers and fantasy fans. A good choice for reluctant readers. The clever resolution will get kids psyched for more tales from the Guardian Herd.”
—ALA Booklist
“Filled with fantastical action, and rich with description. A well-paced and engrossing story. Alvarez has created a series that will be beloved by readers.”
—VOYA
Books by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez
The Guardian Herd: Starfire
The Guardian Herd: Stormbound
The Guardian Herd: Landfall
The Guardian Herd: Windborn
Riders of the Realm 1: Across the Dark Water
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Copyright
RIDERS OF THE REALM #2: THROUGH THE UNTAMED SKY. Text copyright © 2019 by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez. Illustrations copyright © 2019 by David McClellan. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
COVER ART © 2019 BY VIVIENNE TO
COVER DESIGN BY CATHERINE SAN JUAN
Digital Edition MARCH 2019 ISBN: 978-0-06-249438-2
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-249436-8
1920212223PC/LSCH10987654321
FIRST EDITION
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